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Often, in many marriages, one of the spouses assumes the role of “financial lead.” This person manages the couple’s money, pays the bills, works on the taxes, and understands where all of the important papers and assets are located.

So long as the couple remains together and are happily married, this arrangement can work fine. Unfortunately when there is one spouse who doesn’t participate actively in financial decisions, they put themselves at a disadvantage in a divorce situation.

The non-financial spouse can quickly feel very vulnerable, like they are at a noticeable disadvantage.

As we become more financially successful, many of us may find ourselves living large without quite knowing how we got there. Sometimes we find that things we once wanted have now become “needs.” As a result, though our paychecks are bigger, so too are our expenses—and this can have a real impact on meeting our personal financial goals.

Lifestyle creep, otherwise known as lifestyle inflation, occurs when your standard of living improves as your discretionary income rises. Like ivy growing up a tree, if it gets out of control, it can choke your budget.

A 529 plan can be a powerful tool to help fund a family’s education goals for their children. These plans have excellent value, and with the new changes made to them under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), families have greater flexibility in funding their educational savings need.

This guide goes into the nuts and bolts of 529s, including their benefits, limitations, and variety. Ready? Let’s dive into the details.

Extreme anxiety over finances is common enough among women that it has been dubbed “bag lady syndrome.” What is bag lady syndrome? This definition represents the fear of running out of money, losing your home and ending up destitute and alone, save for some plastic shopping bags stuffed with whatever you can carry.

This anxiety can erode a woman’s mental and physical well-being, place strain on her relationships, affect her career and even create the very situation she fears, no matter how money-savvy she really is. It can make a woman feel alone.

This has caused families and their students to stretch all financial means available, sometimes without fully understanding their options.

Independent nonprofit organization The Institute for College Access and Success, reports on the wide range of average debt by state in their Project on Student Debt, and their other published data sets report that private loan borrowing is increasing, asserting that almost half of all private loan borrowers (by Stafford Loan Usage) could be using more affordable federal loans.

If you are unable to fully fund a college student’s education with your own resources, how can you best avoid having to take on overwhelming debt?

Your student debt may very well be one of the biggest financial obligations you will have. Actively managing your debt is an important part of sound financial health, and there are many strategies that could help you manage student loans efficiently.

Whatever you choose, your plan must fit your circumstances. Here is a checklist to help you weigh and decide on the right course for paying off student loans.

There it is, glinting on the horizon: the goal. See it sparkle in the distance? You can reach that pot of gold with proper planning. While true for most any goal, planning is especially important for financial targets like saving for a large purchase. A little planning can help you trim spending and save for a large purchase more easily.

What’s your savings goal? Are you saving for a real estate down payment? A snazzy flat screen? A wedding? Make a visual reminder of what you’re working for. Hold an image representing your goal in your mind. Reconfirm your commitment to attaining this goal. Consider printing out a small picture that represents your goal and display it where you’ll notice it regularly, or set an image of your goal as your phone’s wallpaper.

Buying something on credit can be significantly more expensive than paying cash when you figure in the cost of borrowing the money for the purchase. Interest rates can be high and late payments can impact your credit score. Owing money on a purchase can impact its emotional worth.

Many people find that saving the money beforehand is a more efficient strategy for making a large purchase. Here’s a few sound tips that can help you along the way.

My parents got married at year end fifty years ago. In a blizzard. Here is a great photo of my snow-covered mother grinning through a mouthful of wind-blown veil as she edges down slippery stairs and into the limo, wearing gum boots generously given up by the driver:

Five decades together doesn’t come without challenges, financial and otherwise. (E.G., My sister and I were once teens. Shudder. Mom and Dad: apologies.)

Lower interest rates have made refinancing a smart option for many homeowners. You might be able to lower your monthly payment or even “cash out” your mortgage, letting you consolidate other debts or fund large expenses, such as home renovations or your children’s college educations.

Lower refinance rates are also making it possible for homeowners to refinance their 30-year loans into 15-year loans. Norm Boone and Kyle Morgan join forces to discuss the pros and cons of this tactic.

If you are a borrower considering an interest-only mortgage, whether for a refinance or an initial loan, it’s critically important to weigh the significant risks and drawbacks against possible benefits for your situation.

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